UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSIONS
PERSONAL STATEMENT
The Personal Statement is one of many pieces of information used in reviewing your application.
While it is one important piece, an admission decision is not made on the personal statement alone.
ALL APPLICANTS TO THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
MUST RESPOND TO TWO PROMPTS
»» You have a maximum of 1,000 words total to answer both prompts.
»» Allocate the word count as you wish.
»» Each response should be a minimum of 250 words.
PROMPT # 1 for Freshman Applicants
Describe the world you come from – for
example, your family, community or school –
and tell us how your world has shaped
your dreams and aspirations.
PROMPT # 1 for Transfer Applicants
»» Obtain additional information that may not be evident in other parts of the application
What is your intended major? Discuss how
your interest in the subject developed and
describe any experience you have had in the
field – such as volunteer work, internships
and employment, participation in student
organizations and activities – and what
you have gained from your involvement.
»» Discover and evaluate distinctions among applicants
whose academic records are often very similar
PROMPT #2 for All Applicants
UC SAN DIEGO USES THE PERSONAL STATEMENT TO
»» Gain insight into your academic, personal and extracurricular achievement
WHAT WE LOOK FOR
»» Initiative, motivation, leadership, persistence, service to
others, special potential and substantial experience with other cultures
Tell us about a personal quality, talent,
accomplishment, contribution, or experience
that is important to you. What is it about this
quality or accomplishment that makes you
proud, and how does it relate to the person
you are?
»» Achievement in light of the opportunities available to you
»» Any unusual circumstances or hardships you have faced and how you have responded to them.
Having a hardship is no guarantee of admission. If you choose to write about difficulties you have
experienced, you should describe how you overcame your challenges and what you learned or
achieved in spite of these circumstances.
»» ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT
▶▶ For freshman applicants: include academic accomplishments, beyond those shown in your transcript. Include how your academic interests developed and describe any related work or volunteer experience.
▶▶ For transfer applicants: explain your reason for transferring if you are applying from a four-year
institution or a community college outside of California.
▶▶ For active-duty personnel or veterans of the U.S. Military: you may wish to use the Personal Statement to describe how your military service has helped you develop your educational plans.
There isn’t a formula or “correct answer” to the Personal Statement. Think about all the elements
that make you who you are – school, family, community – and tell us about them in a clear and
persuasive manner. Your responses should add clarity, depth and/or context to the application as
a whole. This is the time to brag. We want to hear about your wonderful achievements.
UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSIONS
TIPS & TECHNIQUES
DO
DON'T
-- Start early. Allow sufficient time for
preparation, revisions and careful composition.
99 Plagiarize. Ask advice of whomever you like, but
do not use ideas or content from print or online
sources. Use your own ideas and words.
-- Think carefully about your responses.
Look critically at the information in your
application: your grades, awards, activities and
work experience, family and income. Anticipate
questions an admissions evaluator will have
after reading your application. The personal
statement is your opportunity to answer those
questions.
-- Write clearly. Present information and ideas in
a focused, deliberate and meaningful manner.
Use concrete examples and details to support
your point. A list of qualities is not persuasive.
-- Proofread. You will not be graded on grammar,
spelling or sentence structure, but ensuring
accuracy and flow will enhance overall
presentation and readability.
-- Get feedback. Your personal statement should
reflect your own ideas and be written by you
alone, but others — family, teachers and
friends — may offer valuable suggestions.
-- Use a word-processing program. Once you are
satisfied with your statements, copy and paste
them into the space provided in the application.
Proofread once more for odd characters or line
breaks that may have appeared.
99 Use creative writing. Avoid clichés, poems,
scene-setting, quotes or jokes.
99 Write about events in the distant past. Unless
they clearly illustrate your plans for your college
career, your passion or future goals.
99 Write about other people more than yourself. It’s
great to have family support or a loving friend or
role model, but the personal statement should be
about you.
99 Duplicate information found elsewhere in your
application; instead add to our understanding of
you as an individual.
99 Give a long list of accomplishments and
activities. Place them in context with
explanations or examples. Thoughtfully describe
what you’ve done, the choices you’ve made and
what you’ve gained as a result.
99 Pose philosophical questions. Get to the point
and tell us what you mean.
99 Use acronyms. If we don’t know what they are
your meaning may be lost.
-- Use “I” statements. Talk about yourself so that
we can get to know your personality, talents,
accomplishments and potential for success.
Student
Research
Centered
Focused
Service
Public
Oriented
University
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS BOX IS NOT A CONTINUATION OF THE PERSONAL STATEMENT
USE THIS BOX TO:
»» Convey information that will help us understand the context of your achievement.
»» List any additional honors awards, activities, leadership elements, volunteer activities, etc.
»» Share information regarding a nontraditional school environment or unusual circumstances
that has not been included in any other area of the application.
Your essay prompts should not be used for this purpose.